Vienna - SCHONBRUNN PALACE !! .. and more

Schonnbrunn Palace is the most famous and beautiful palace in Vienna, and one of the best known in all of Europe.   It once served as the summer palace of the Habsburgs, who ruled much of Europe for over 600 years.

here's our tour guide 'Weiler' giving us some info. (green paddle)

This is the main part, it has about 400 rooms.   The left and right sections that you don't see .. has another 1000 rooms for 1500 employees (butlers, gardeners, etc.).   Originally it was built as a hunting lodge and then remodeled to its present form in 1745-50.   It is a Rococco design.   Every Easter the royal family and their 1500 employees moved out to this 'summer residence' for 6-months.   It took a week plus to move everyone AND the furniture approx. 10-miles from the winter main palace.    The palace grounds cover 460 acres and includes the oldest (1752) existing zoo in the world.   An interesting fact I found out .. during Christmastime the staff feeds the elephants Christmas trees!

See horizontal green 'barrier' in front of the palace?   This is the back of a line of booths where they have set up many Christmas Market stalls.  pics to follow

It was very cold this morning!   and the wind was howling.. temp about 40-deg, wind-chill felt like 32-deg !!   After doing some shopping we headed to one of their main cafes and had some delicious apple strudel.   I had mine with hot vanilla sauce .. yummy   .. with coffee and a cappuccino :

After this delightful and warming break, we headed back to to palace to go around back and see what was there .. OMG !

The most influential ruler to have lived in the palace was the famous Maria Theresa (1717-1780), the only female ruler of the Habsburgs dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg.   She ruled for 40-years.   She had 16-children!  Marie Antionette, Queen of France, and ultimately beheaded, was one of her daughters.   A son, Leopold II, also fathered 16-children!  (wife- Maria Luisa of Spain)

We went back out in front to get a wider perspective picture before getting back on the bus and took another of 'some' of the 'help's' apartments/building :

On the drive back through Vienna I enjoyed some of the graffitti/street art that is city sanctioned for approx. 13-km along the sides of the Donau Canal :

Made it back to the ship in time for lunch and then we started motoring north to the Wachau Valley, due to arrive in Krems around 8-pm.

We ate dinner at a special different restaurant on ship tonight, family style.

We then had a special musical group perform for us in the lounge :

A very delightful evening!   Getting to know quite a few people on board.
Fun in the Krems country side tomorrow.   Been hearing about your wild weather in the high plateau.   YIKES!    Hunker down!